Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

LDAF has filed a notice of intent with the State Register giving public notice that the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, pursuant to the authority set forth in La. R.S. 3:1433, intends to amend the following regulations related to seeds:  LAC 7:XIII.101, 109, 131, 133, 141, 301, 519, 709, 723, 749, 755, and 761. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.101 corrects the reference to the Louisiana Seed Law; adds a definition of hermetically sealed containers; amends the definition of prohibited noxious weed seed; and deletes the definition of Seed Gathered in Elevators. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.109 corrects the spelling of certain species names; places yellow nutsedge in alphabetical order; adds Palmer amaranth pigweed as prohibited noxious weed; replaces the red rice species “sativa” with “spp.”; adds bracted plantain as a noxious weed and gives allowances; reduces the total number of noxious weed seed allowed in seed lots from 500 to 300 per pound; and reformats table. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.131 includes a grammatical change to remove the word “it”; deletes Subsection J and recreates it with a heading; adds wording to regulate the test date requirement for small packages of vegetable seed that are labeled with “packed for year”; creates a new heading for Subsection K; replaces the word “true” with “new” throughout the section; adds “germination percentage” requirement when relabeling; adds option to relabel with “stickers” and “supplemental labels”; adds “test” to the “germination date” statement throughout section; removes the prohibition that an original label cannot be altered; adds requirement in reference to the location of supplemental labeling on seed containers; and reformats section. The proposed Rule changes to LAC 7:XIII.133 deletes portions of the tag analysis requirements that are no longer applicable; adds “Louisiana” to the Seed Law reference; and adds wording to reference the example seed label. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.141 deletes outdated USDA reference and adds new correct reference. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.301 adds “supplemental labels” to the prohibition. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.519 adds wording to allow “substandard germination” labeling of carryover certified seed; and reformats section. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.709 changes the word “nutgrass” to “yellow and purple nutsedge”. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.723 removes the asterisk; removes the wording in subscript denoted by the asterisk; replaces and reformats the wording previously denoted by the asterisk; changes “nutgrass” to “nutsedge”; and relabels headings. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.749 changes the name of “curly indigo” to “indian jointvetch”. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.755 deletes the duplicate table in its entirety. The proposed Rule change to LAC 7:XIII.761 deletes the scientific names of noxious weeds.  Interested persons may submit written comments, data, opinions, and arguments regarding the proposed Rule. Written submissions must be directed to Lester Cannon, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 3004, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 and must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. on August 4, 2018.  No preamble is available.